Disclosing harmful medical errors

Serious medical errors occur commonly in medicine. Although there has been traditionally a failure to inform patients and families of actual error occurances, the benefits of error disclosure have recently been emphasized and movement toward honest communication with patients and families is taking place. In fact prompt disclosure of errors is not only the ethical thing to do but disclosure of errors can reduce litigation, preserve the relationship with the patient and family and result in fair settlements for injured persons. In disclosing errors clinicians a model of "giving bad news" is a useful approach. Patients should be queried about their understanding of events, be given clear information as to what happened, why it happened, and what is going to be done to prevent similar occurrences. Attention should also be given to the practitioner(s) involved in the error whose emotions and reactions require support and occasionally professional help.